Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C. has announced that firm partner Robert J. Gordon has been named the 2011 recipient of the New York Mass Torts Litigator of the Year by the legal publication Best Lawyers.

“In the 20 years since Rob has been a part of the firm, his outstanding dedication to our clients and exceptional skills as a litigator serve as an example of the level of excellence to which all of Weitz & Luxenberg’s attorneys can ascribe,” said firm Co-Founder and Senior Partner Perry Weitz. “On behalf of the entire firm, I am proud to congratulate Rob on receiving this honor.”

“Mass torts is a team game and we have the finest team at W & L,” said Mr. Gordon. “Every accomplishment I’ve had here is simply because the team succeeded, from the best staff attorneys and administrators to the best litigators and negotiators. We’ve also been fortunate to join forces with other top firms around the country.”

Mr. Gordon has tried cases on behalf of individuals stricken with asbestos-related diseases, as well as cases on behalf of people who have suffered serious harm from defective drugs and medical devices such as Vioxx, Rezulin, and silicone breast implants.

He also served as co-lead counsel in litigation involving MTBE (MDL 1358) against the oil and gas industry, engineering a $450M settlement on behalf of public drinking water providers and for state, county and city plaintiffs nationwide. Mr. Gordon, along with Senior Partner Perry Weitz and Robin Greenwald were finalists for the Public Justice Foundation’s Trial Lawyer of the Year award for their work in the MBTE litigation.

Mr. Gordon is also currently involved in the firm’s representation of hundreds of Gulf coast commercial fishermen, those in the travel and tourism industry, and other business owners and individuals who are facing significant financial losses, property damage and health problems caused by the BP oil spill disaster.

Prior to joining Weitz & Luxenberg, Mr. Gordon served as an Assistant District Attorney in Philadelphia, PA, where he served as member of the office’s Felony Jury Unit.

In awarding this honor, the staff at Best Lawyers reviewed information submitted from thousands of lawyers throughout the United States with regard to criteria such as abilities, professionalism and integrity. The 2011 New York Mass Torts Lawyer Litigation of the Year award was made after the review of over 3.1 million evaluations submitted to the publication by Best Lawyers members throughout the nation.

Steven Naifeh, President of Best Lawyers, says, “We continue to believe —as we have believed for more than 25 years —that recognition by one’s peers is the most meaningful form of praise in the legal profession. We would like to congratulate Robert J. Gordon on being selected as the ‘New York Best Lawyers Mass Tort Litigator of the Year’ for 2011.”